Ornamental watch, portrait and plaque stand



June 1965 J. w. GREEN 3,19 ,901

ORNAMENTAL WATCH, PORTRAIT AND PLAQUE STAND Filed Nov. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 James W. Green 1 N VE N TOR.

June 1965 J. w. GREEN 3,191,901

ORNAMENTAL WATCH, PORTRAIT AND PLAQUE STAND Filed Nov. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 James W. Green 1 N VEN TOR.

Atmqs United States Patent 3,11,9tl1 ORNAMENTAL WATCH, PORTRAIT AND PLAQUE STAND James W. Green, 125 S. Main St, Roxboro, N.C. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,206 11 Claims. or. 248-416 This invention comprises a novel and useful ornamental watch, portrait and plaque stand and more specifically pertains to an-ornamental display stand for attractively supporting and displaying articles such as watches, plaques or other round disc-like bodies.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide an ornamental stand especially adapted to attractively display such disc-shaped articles as watches, portraits and plaques in a manner which is attractive and yet which will permit easy removability of the articles from the stand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a display stand in accordance with the preceding objects which is specifically adapted to retain, support and display watches and other disc-like articles.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a display stand having a construction specifically adapted to engage, tension and support a wrist watch with security and yet in an attractive readily visible manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a display stand particularly adapted for the display of pocket watches such as those of the hunting-type, of the double case type and/or'watches having the Winding stem at the numeral 3.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide an ornamental support stand for watches and similar articles which shall include a ring-like support element in which the Watch is secured for display purposes and which ringlike member is provided with a cut-away portion to provide clearance for the stem of a Watch. 7

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully' hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accomppanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of one form of the display stand which is particularly adapted to support withtension a wristwatch therein;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the stand of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 33 of FIGURE 1 and showing the upper and lower wrist watch engaging fastening means;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing certain details of the wrist watch fastening means of FIG- URE l;

'and lower watch fastening means of this form of the in- -vention;

FIGURES is a perspective view of a third form of dis- :play stand particularly adapted for supporting a huntingtype watch of the double case type and with the winding stem and pendant of the watch being positioned at the numeral 3 thereon; and

FIGURE 9 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of FIGURE 1 and showing the detachable mounting of the watch supporting member upon its base.

In all three embodiments disclosed in the drawings as exemplary forms of the invention, the ornamental stand includes a suport base indicated generally by the numeral 10 and which may be identical for each form of the stand. Rising from and detachably supported by the base 10 is a support means or structure indicated generally by the numeral 12 and by means of which different types of watches or other articles are detachably supported for display purposes. It is the details of the sup port structure 12 in particular and its special adaptation to the support of a particular type of article which comprises the novel feature of this invention.

Considering first a preferred exemplification of the principles of this invention, as disclosed in FIGURES 1-4, it will be observed that the support base 10 includes a horizontally extending preferably fiat plate like member 14 having outwardly inclined and downwardly projecting legs 16 at the four corners thereof as shown more clearly in FIGURE 8. Rising from the plate 14 is a support pillar or element 18 which is of a bellshape that is, having horizontal circular cross sections of varying diam eter from its lower to its upper end. The upper end of the member 18 is diametrically reduced to provide a column or post-like structure as at 20 having a generally fiat horizontal top surface as shown at 22 in FIGURE 8, and which top surface is provided with a transversely extending groove, channel or recess comprising a seat 24. It is in this seat that the support structure 12 is removably but securely mounted.

As will be more readily apparent from FIGURE 9 the base has an outwardly extending opening or chamber 26 extending from its bottom surface up to a top wall upon which the top surface '22 is disposed. An internally threaded bore 30 extends through this top wall and into the grooved seat 24, registering with the threaded blind bore 31 of the lower portion of a support structure 49 and constitutes parts of a fastening means by which the support structure is attached and secured to the base in the various forms of the invention.

In all of the forms of the invention it is preferred to form the grooved seat 24 of a semi-cylindrical configuration which is complementary to and receives the cylindrical surface of the lower portion of the support structure.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the support structure includes a U-shaped support member indicated generally by the numeral 44 and which has a horizontally extending bight or lower portion 42 received in and extending across the seat 24 and from the outer ends of which rise a pair of upstanding reversely curving support arms 44 terminating in ornamental ball tips or finger grip portions 46. Within the U-shaped support member 40 there is provided a ring-like support member 50 which is resiliently embraced and engaged at diametrically opposite locations thereon by a pair of pivot pins as at 52 so that the ring member 50 is suspended between the yoke arms 44 and above the yoke bight portion 42. In a manner to be subsequently set forth, a watch or other object indicated by the numeral 54 is attachably secured within the ring member 50 for convenient, attractive and protective display and support thereby.

In the form of wrist watch 54 illustrated in FIGURES 14, it will be observed that pairs of projecting lugs 56 are formed on the opposite sides of the watch case for the reception of the usual pins by which the wrist band is secured to the opposite ends of the watch. In order to mount such a watch in this stand, the wrist band or bracelet and the usual pins are removed and in place thereof, there is employed as shown in FIGURE 4 a pair of retaining sleeves 60. Each sleeve preferably comprises a single piece of metal rolled into a cylindrical form but provided with a longitudinally extending slot 62 therein which slot is diametrically enlarged to provide a circular aperture 64 at the mid-portion thereof. This sleeve 64 is of such length as to be snugly received between the pairs of the lugs 56 and to be retained therebetween as by the usual resiliently extensible wrist band pin 66 which passes through the sleeve and has its pintle extremities 68 seated in the usual recesses in the lugs 56. An externally threaded fastener 70 has an eye portion 72 at one end thereof which is slidable through the sleeve 6% from end-to-end thereof, with the bore 74 through the eye being sufficient to receive the pin 66 therein. The fastener 70 is threadedly engaged in an internally threaded bore 76 formed in the ring-like member i and is locked in place by a finger grip ball 78 having an internally threaded neck 84 engaged upon the extremity of the fastener 76. In this manner, the upper portion of the wrist watch is securely locked in a detachable manner to the upper portion of the frame member 50. In a similar'manner, as suggested in FIGURE 3, the lower end of the wrist watch is like wise detchably secured to the lower portion of the ring member 50. Thus, a depending externally threaded fastener pin 82 has an eye 84 correspondingly engaged in the sleeve 60 and upon the pin 66 at the other side of the watch. The lower end of the rod 82 is engaged in the internally threaded bore 86 within the lower portion of the ring member. In effect, the member 82 can be considered as a lower supporting anchor member for the fastening arrangement with the upper member 70 being adjusted to tautly position and tension the wrist watch within the ring member 50 in an attractively displayed manner.

Turning next to the embodiment of FIGURES 5-7, it will be observed that a similar construction of the base is employed in this embodiment. However, in place of the U-shaped support member 40 and its ring support 5%) there is provided a ring-shaped arcuate support member indicated generally by the numeral 90. The lower portion of the support member 90 is received and seated in the grooved seat 24 and is secured therein, as shown in FIGURE 7, by the bore 30 in the base top wall and the screw 98. The support 90 to provided with an opening 92 at one side thereof, which is adapted to provide clearance for the stem or pendant of a pocket watch. The watch itself, indicated generally by the numeral 96, is supported between the upper and lower portions of the support 90 by fastening means. The fastening means consists of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7 and comprises a fastening screw 98 having a kerfed end ltiti which is engageable from the underside of the stand by a screwdriver or the like. This screw extends through a threaded bore 102 in the lower portion of the ring-like support 90 and projecting upwardly therethrough is provided with arcuately extendingresilient clips 104 adapted to resiliently embrace the circumferentially extending portion of the lower rim of the watch 96. As shown in FIGURE 6, the upper portion of the ring-like support 90 is likewise provided with an internally threaded bore 106 through which extends the upper fastening bolt ltlfi carrying at its lower end a similar resilient arcuately extending spring clip 110 which is adapted to embrace the upper portion of the rim of the watch 96. A kerf 112 in the upper end of the fastener 108 provides a means for effecting movement of the fasteners towards each other to thus resiliently clamp the watch case therebetween. A spherical lock nut 114 engages upon the upper end of the bolt 1% to attractively and firmly secure the bolt in its adjusted position.

By this means, the watch case is compressibly and resiliently gripped on opposite portions of its rim to hold it securely in an erect position in the ring-like support 90.

The same type of support is shown in FIGURE 8 but here a somewhat different type of watch is shown as being mounted therein. This watch is of the hunter-type having a double case, one cover 122 being shown in open position to expose the face of the watch. Further, in this form of the invention, there is illustrated a watch of the type having its stem or pendant 124 disposed at the numeral 3 as shown at 126. In this form of the invention, the watch is so supported that its stem or pendant is disposed through the opening 92 of the ring-like support.

In all forms of the invention, it will be observed that the watch or other articles supported by the device can readily rotate about the vertical axis through the cooperating fastening members so as to cause the medial plane through the articles to coincide with the medial plane through the support structure in order to be disposed at various inclined relations with respect thereto if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in'the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An ornamental stand for articles such as watches and the like comprising a base having a top wall with a horizontally extending grooved seat therein, a support means adapted to at least partially embrace a watch and having a lower portion positioned in said seat, means securing said lower portion to said seat and base, vertically spaced, aligned and opposed fastening means carried by said support means and projecting inwardly therefrom for releasably engaging and supporting opposite portions of the periphery of an article and holding said article for display in a vertical position in said support member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base has a chamber opening upwardly from its lower surface and terminating beneath said top wall, said securing means including a threaded bore in said top wall establishing communication between said chamber and said grooved seat, a threaded fastener in said bore and secured to said lower portion.

3. An ornamental stand for articles such as watches and the like comprising a base having a generally horizontal top surface with a horizontally extending grooved seat therein, a support member at least partially encasing a watch and having a lower portion seated in said seat, means securing said lower portion to said seat and base, vertically spaced, aligned and opposed fastening means carried by said support member and projecting inwardly therefrom for releasably engaging and supporting opposite portions of the periphery of an article and holding said article for display in a vertical position in said support member, said support member including a U- shaped support having upstanding arms and a horizontal bight portion engaged in said seat, a ring supported between said arms, said fasteners being threadedly carried by said ring and extending inwardly thereof, means on said fasteners for securing a watch therebetween.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fasteners have eye portions, a pin engaged in each eye portion, a sleeve engaged on each pin and having an opening for said fastener, said pin being adapted to secure said sleeve between a pair of wristwatch bracelet lugs.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support means is C-shaped and lies in a vertical plane and has a cut-away portion at one side thereof, said fasteners being each threadedly engaged in a threaded bore in said support means, each fastener carrying on its inner end an arcuate resilient clip for embracing the upper and lower portions of an article rim.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein one fastener also secures said lower portion to said stand.

7. An ornamental stand for a watch and articles of similar configuration comprising a base having a substantially flat and horizontal top surface with a horizontally extending grooved seat in said top surface constituting a seat, a support means comprising a frame, adapted to at least partially encircle the case of a watch, and having a lower portion received in said seat, means securing said lower portion to said base and in said seat, a pair of fastening means each carried by said support means for engaging and supporting a watch on opposite sides thereof and holding the latter for display in said support means in a substantially vertical position.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said base is hollow defining therein a chamber and a bore in said base communicating said chamber with said seat, said securing means being received within said chamber and bore and being connected to said lower portion.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said fastening means is adapted for attachment to a watch and to apply tension to the latter.

10. An ornamental stand for a watch comprising a base with a top surface having a horizontally extending groove in said top surface constituting a seat, a C-shaped support member including a rim and lying in a substantially vertical plane and having a lower portion of its rim received in said seat, said support member having a central opening therethrough of sutficient size for passage of a watch therethrough and for projection of a portion of a watch therethrough, a pair of fasteners each attached to and extending through said rim for engaging and securely holding the opposite portions of a watch case rim and position the latter for display within said support member and adapted to position a watch with a portion thereof projecting through said opening, securing means mounted on said base and attached to said lower portion and fixedly securing it in said seat.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said base is hollow defining a chamber therein and a bore in said base communicating said chamber with said seat, said securing means being received within said chamber and bore and being connected to said lower portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,188 11/97 Amez-Droz 248-117 X 1,420,583 6/22 Sirnons 248-1l6 1,573,910 2/26 Brinkman.

2,229,978 1/ 41 Kolberg 5 8-5 6 3,062,491 11/ 62 Green 248116 FOREIGN PATENTS 923,935 2/55 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ORNAMENTAL STAND FOR ARTICLES SUCH AS WATCHES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A TOP WALL WITH A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING GROOVED SEAT THEREIN, A SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY EMBRACE A WATCH AND HAVING A LOWER PORTION POSITIONED IN SAID SEAT, MEANS SECURING SAID LOWER PORTION TO SAID SEAT AND BASE, VERTICALLY SPACED, ALIGNED AND OPPOSED FASTENING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND PROJECTING INWARDLY THEREFROM FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING OPPOSITE PORTIONS OF THE PERIPHERY OF AN ARTICLE AND HOLDING SAID ARTICLE FOR DISPLAY IN A VERTICAL POSITION IN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER. 